Tavares gives Islanders series tie

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UNIONDALE, N.Y. John Tavares scored with 9:49 left, and the New York Islanders tied their first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night with a wild 6-4 victory.

Only the final lead was safe in Game 4.

Tavares slammed in his own rebound in front after Brad Boyes fed him following a turnover by Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. It was the Islanders' third one-goal advantage in the game and the one that earned them a 2-2 tie in the highly entertaining series that has featured 5-4 and 6-4 finishes at Nassau Coliseum.

Tavares was serenaded with cheers of “M-V-P” from the frantic crowd that is believing an upset is possible. Casey Cizikas shoved in a shot with 1:16 left to add some insurance.

“We found a way today. Another roller coaster ride,” Tavares said. “We learned from those games when we gave up leads — a lot of us said that one bounce can change a season.

“Not sure what it was but we have had contributions offensively and defensively from everyone in our lineup. That makes us better.”

Captain Mark Streit scored twice, and Brian Strait and Kyle Okposo also had goals. Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves for the eighth-seeded Islanders, who know they will last at least six games with the top-seeded Penguins.

“You get into the playoffs, you put in so much effort to get here, we want to make the most of it,” Tavares said. “We believe in this room. We have a lot of character. That's what we need.”

Game 5 is Thursday in Pittsburgh.

James Neal, in his return after injuring his ankle in the series opener, scored in the first period. Malkin added a tying goal in the second, and Brandon Sutter and Pascal Dupuis provided the Penguins with a pair of one-goal leads they couldn't protect.

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